In a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy put Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul “on notice” about New York City’s ongoing congestion pricing. Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration suspended the congestion pricing program, which began on January 5 with the goal of reducing traffic and raising funds for mass transit.
The program charges a $9 toll for most vehicles entering Manhattan’s core south of Central Park. Transit officials reported that the toll has resulted in minor but noticeable reductions in traffic congestion.
Despite the federal order, the tolls have remained in place due to a federal lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency in charge of New York City’s public transportation, in an effort to keep the program running.
Governor Hochul stated that tolls will continue to be collected while the legal challenge is ongoing. Trump administration officials have given New York until Friday to end congestion pricing in the city. On Thursday, Duffy wrote, “.@GovKathyHochul – the federal government and @POTUS are putting New York on notice.”
Your refusal to end cordon pricing and open disrespect for the federal government are unacceptable. Just as your high tolls and lack of a free road option are a slap in the face to hardworking Americans, your refusal to approve two critical pipelines that will reduce fuel costs by 50% is detrimental to the public interest. Your illegal pricing scheme forces working-class citizens to pay for roads that were built with federal tax dollars.
We will grant New York a 30-day extension while discussions continue. Know that the federal government’s billions of dollars sent to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will be taken seriously.”
